A small business incubator concept.

Bret MacFadyen

Bret MacFadyen

Pennsylvania-born artist Bret MacFadyen has owned and operated his own studio in [East] Nashville, Tennessee for the last 20 years. The main focus of this studio is the construction of one-of-a-kind artisan furniture, objects and installations that incorporate wood, steel and reclaimed objects.

Between projects, he creates artwork for the Art & Invention Gallery, which he co-owns with his wife, Meg. Bret and Meg are also the founders of The Tomato Art Fest, a festival the couple started to share their enthusiasm for tomatoes and art.

Both the festival and the gallery promote creativity, participation and fun.

He says he hopes his work makes others smile.

“Many artists want their artwork to grace the walls of a client’s home,” he says. “For me, over the years I’ve made so many dining room tables, desks, beds among other things, that I now recognize I’ve had the privilege of creating objects in the home where families talk and where people think and dream…no less, no more.”